Mitsubishi green vehicle strategy gets detailed

One was hybrid and the other all-electric, with the latter seen as what the next generation i-MiEV might be. With the Geneva Auto Show now upon us, the automaker has fleshed out the details of these two concepts, offering up more details on its new GR-HEV hybrid and CA-MiEV electric car. Both of these fall under Mitsubishi’s new @earth Technology idea, which focuses upon cleaner drivetrains for its offerings.

The GR-HEV hybrid is a concept sport utility truck that’s outfitted with a FR-based diesel-hybrid system that, according to Mitsubishi, has been adopted for the powertrain. CO2 emissions during driving are said to have been dropped to levels of 149 g/km or below, and the truck sports a 2.5L “clean diesel” engine that works in combination with an electric motor HEV system that comes with a high-performance motor and battery. It has the ability to to drive over short distances in pure-electric mode.

What’s described as a next generation 4WD system is part of the GR-HEV’s make up, sporting four modes that “enable the driver to choose levels of higher fuel-efficient driving or more all-terrain performance for rough roads.” Also made available is an AC power supply system, useful for not needing to carry power generators when out in the field or on the beach.

Debuted alongside the Mitsubishi hybrid truck idea was the CA-MiEV. This electric car incorporates what is described as next-generation EV technologies under development at the company, such as high-energy density batteries and newer EV systems (motor, inverter, regenerative braking and wireless charging system). Together with a lighter design it achieves a cruising range of 300 km, or around 185 miles.

Also of note by Mitsubishi for the CA-MiEV are a number of “convenience’ options to make life using this little electric vehicle easier. These include a remote-controlled air-conditioning system and management system for charging and discharging that can be linked to smartphones or tablet devices; a remote tracking function that tracks the vehicle’s position using GPS if the vehicle is stolen and a “magnetic resonance wireless charging device that enables convenient charging.”

It isn’t known at this point if either concept will become production models, though it is likely some iteration of the CA-MiEV will be what Mitsubishi uses for its next pure electric car.